Gulf War sparks a newswoman's love for Judaism

This seasoned newswoman, who has covered major world battles as cohost of NBC's
weekend edition of "The Today Show," is currently prepping for her own daily
gig: "Access Hollywood." It's a hard-hitting new Monday-to-Friday map of
Tinseltown topography: the big production deals, the signings, the scandals.

"I'm a storyteller," says the Mexico City native, who was raised Catholic but
now considers herself Jewish. She grew up in California as the "daughter of a
Jewish mother -- her maiden name is Eisner -- and a Catholic flamenco dancer."
There were no mixed signals from this mixed couple about their daughter's
religion.

"I grew up Catholic," Fernandez says. But as an adult covering the Gulf War for
CBS' WXIZ-TV, she underwent a transformation.

The war sparked an interest in Judaism. "I felt inspired by the resilience of
the Israelis," she recalls. "I wanted to learn more about my heritage."

Fernandez investigated the number of American Jews making aliyah (immigrating
to Israel). "When I came back to Miami, I started studying halacha [Jewish
law]" with an Orthodox rabbi. Her unorthodox upbringing was no impediment;
Fernandez was "adopted" by an observant Miami family.

Shabbat and the holidays are important to the newswoman, who now considers
herself Jewish.

She is eager to launch "Access Hollywood."

"Entertainment news is news," says Fernandez. "I think this is the most
successful move I've ever made in my career, because I get to have fun. I get
to cover an industry that I think right now isn't being covered in a quality,
wonderful way."